Harper Sercombe
The development of Mickleham Road is something that has long been talked about and campaigned for.
However, yesterday’s state budget left no guarantee that the road will be upgraded anytime soon, with the $68 million allocated for stage one of the project being under consideration by the federal government’s Commonwealth Infrastructure Investment Program review.
Longtime advocate for the project, northern metropolitan Liberal MP Evan Mullholland has been left disheartened.
“This Labor budget has outrageously shelved the completion of stage one of this important project,” Mr Mulholland said.
“This brutal state Labor budget is making life harder for the people of Greenvale and Craigieburn.”
Mr Mulholland said the road and “temporary roundabout” connecting Somerton and Mickleham road is a major safety issue for the area.
“Many people have said to me that they feel like they’re walking on eggshells through the roundabout and one resident said they say a little prayer before they go through the intersection,” he said.
Hume councillor Jim Overend shares a similar view to the MP. He said there are no winners in this project.
“The residents of Hume are the biggest losers out of this,” Cr Overend said.
“We’re at the mercy of both the state and federal government.”
Both Cr Overend and Mr Mulholland believe the government has over budgeted for the project.
“Two hundred and twenty-two million in state and federal funding can only fund a measly 1.6km duplication of Mickleham Road from Somerton Road to Dellamore Boulevard,” Mr Mulholland said.
“This is despite the government’s 6.6 kilometre duplication of Plenty Road that cost just over $145 million and the current 6km duplication of Craigieburn Road costing $300 million.
“There is clearly a massive disparity here and the government is not being transparent with residents.”
The federal government is three weeks into its 90 day infrastructure review.
